Environmental Project Planner - Aviation Division

The Texas Department of Transportation is hiring an Environmental Project Planner for its Aviation Division in Austin, TX. The role involves preparing and reviewing environmental planning activities for aviation projects, ensuring compliance with environmental laws, and managing environmental aspects of airport projects. Responsibilities include overseeing contracts, providing technical guidance, and liaising with various agencies. A Bachelor's degree and 3 years of relevant experience are required.
Prepares or reviews environmental planning and program activities associated with aviation projects for the Texas Department of Transportation including, but not limited to, technical studies, categorical exclusions and environmental assessments to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal environmental laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Additionally, they will be a resource for complex questions, developing, maintaining and executing a program to ensure compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) environmental requirements. As well as overseeing the effectiveness of environmental related projects/programs.

Acts as a liaison with state and federal resource agencies, environmental and special interest groups, consultant staff, and project sponsors. Conducts surveys, assessments, or investigations to ensure compliance with laws, evaluate environmental impact and identify hazards or issues.

Employees at this level follow standard practices that do not require frequent supervision of details; they establish their own work plan and priorities to meet set objectives and issues are rarely referred to the supervisor but are handled at the occurrence.

Essential Duties:
• Develops, administers or monitors environmental service-related contracts involving applicable agency programs to include developing work authorizations and supplemental agreements, processing payments and managing budgets.
• Provides technical expertise and guidance to airports, engineers, and administrative staff related to environmental and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures and issues.
• Manages all environmental aspects for aviation projects, including airport expansions, runway extensions, and other airport planning projects.
• Reviews, evaluates, monitors, and approves consultant work related to aviation environmental studies.
• Represents the Division regarding complex aviation environmental issues.
• Ensures compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policies and procedures for environmental studies and assessments.
• Manages the environmental review process for airport projects, including coordination with planners, engineers, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representatives.
• Determines the type of environmental assessment required for aviation projects and signed off on completed assessments.
• Manages consultants and negotiates contracts, ensuring projects are completed effectively and within budget.
• Consults and coordinates with representatives of regulatory agencies, special interest groups, the public, and Department personnel related to environmental resources.
• Develops contract proposal evaluation requirements related to environmental studies.
• Manages scientific service contracts to include developing work authorizations and supplemental agreements, processing payments and managing budget.
• Prepares or reviews technical studies, categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, and environmental impact statements to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal environmental laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's Degree in any discipline.

Experience: 3 years of experience in aviation, environmental, planning, project management, or other related experience. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent).

Substitutions: Experience in aviation, environmental, planning, project management or other related fields may be substituted for education on a year per year basis; or related graduate level education may be substituted for experience on a year per year basis when not required as stated in other conditions. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

Licenses and Certifications:
• Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.

Competencies:
• Environmental laws, regulations, and mitigation requirements
• Air quality, archeological resources, biological resources, community impacts, non-archeological historic resources, hazardous materials, or water resources management methods and procedures
• Contract negotiation, development and management methods
• Researching, analyzing, developing, interpreting, and implementing policies, procedures, and technical information specific to functional area
• Developing, writing, and conducting presentations and speaking to present images and ideas in a clear, concise, organized, and interesting manner to optimize audience understanding
• Using computers, applications including (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat), or related applications and systems
• Build, establish, and maintain effective working relationships and coalitions and negotiating settlement of differences without damaging relationships, applying effective questioning and listening techniques to determine other parties' positions in a direct and diplomatic manner
• Manage, monitor, evaluate, and report on environmental programs and project activities
• Initiates and supports quality management activities and performance management measures to provide the highest quality products and services that meet the needs and requirements of internal and external customers
• Shows initiative and action beyond what is required to improve products or services; is self-starting and completes assignments independently without constant supervision

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions
• Sedentary work: Lift up to 10 lbs at a time and occasionally carry files/small tools
• Talking and expressing or exchanging ideas by spoken words
• Repetitive Motion-substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• Close Visual Acuity-work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading
• Visual Acuity-determine work quality/make general observations of facilities/structures

Conditions of Employment:

Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)